Battery cell



May 4 1926.

A. H. sNYDER BATTERY CELL Filed August 10, 1918 .l g y 7///////////////////////////// 2 /N VE IV TOI? Patented May 4, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFICE. j.

ALMOND H. SNYDEKR, OF LANCASTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOIR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO GOULD STORAGE BATTERY COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

BATTERY CELL.

application mea August 1o, 191s. serial m. waas.

To all whom z't may concern Be it known that I, ALMOND H. SNYDEB, a citizen of the United States, residing in Lancaster, county of Erie, and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Battery Cells, set forth in the annexed specification and drawing forming a art thereof. y

iIy invention is particularly applicable to that type of battery cell which employs an electrolyte in fluid form and wherein the useof the battery causesgases to be given ofi'l which it is desired shall 'be carried away and discharged at a properpoint.v It is also canting or rolling motion and vibration. And as these are conditions `usually met wit-h in using batteries aboard submarine vessels, my invention will be described with particular reference to la battery of the socalled submarine type, without the intention of in any way limitingmy invention to this type of battery used for example merely to illustrate one embodiment ofthe same.

. Fig. 1 is a partial section and partial elevation of a portion of a typical submarine battery vcomprehending one embodiment of my invention. y

Fig. '2 is a top plan of-the cell shown in Fig.- 1, showing 'a slightly modified adjustment of certain of the parts shown in Fig. 1,

as will hereinafter more plainly appear.

ao i

or receptacle of suitable material, indicated as hard rubber, for containing the plates or electrodes 2 which may be held in proper relation to each other by any suitable type of supporting means, as for example the lugs 3 and 4 carried by suitable insulating memried by the ledges 6 of the jar 1. The plates 'may be separated from each other as by means of the usual separators, as indicated at 7, and the jar filled with electrolyte as indicated at 8. All of the positive plates, for example,.may be united to a bus-.bar 9, in communication with lugs or connectors 10; while the neg'ativejplates are connected with a bus-bar 11 provided with suitable connecitors o1l terminals 12. The cell may be connected into circuit by any suitable type of connectors 13', which may be bolted to posts 'V 10 and 12. The posts 10 and 12 are provided with a flanged portion 14 upon which is particularly applicablel to cells subjected tol `tion of the cover and the top bers or supports 5, which in turn are carplaced a soft rubber gasket 15. The cover 16, of hard rubber or other suitable material, is providedwith apertures registeringH wlth the posts 10 'and 12 andrests lupon the gaskets 15. The posts 10 and 12 are provided above the cover 16 with the gaskets of soft rubber or other yielding material, indicated at 17, upon which there is placed a washer 18 against which the nuts 19 may be forced by making u the same on the threaded portion 20 of the posts 10 and 12. In

this manner, a fluid-tight joint between the posts and the cover is readily effected. The cover fits snugly within the receptacle 1 and is provided with a flanged rim which defines a groove or channel between the edge porof the jar, which is preferably iilled with cement, as indlcated at 21,'t0 form a fluid-tight joint between the edge vof the cover and the receptacle or jarv 1. The cover 16 is provided with a centralyilanged portion or upwardly extendlng sleeve 22, and also provlded with an annular downwardly extending `lange or sleeve 23 concentric with the flange 22; while portions of the cover between lthe outside of sleeve23 and the inside of flange 22 are out away to form passages, as indicated at 24. The interior of they sleeve A23 is counterbored, as indicated at 25, and internally threaded, as indicated :1t-,43. The counterbored portion 25 is connected as by means In the drawing, 1 represents the'usual jar of ports 26 with passage-ways contained within the webs `27 upon the under side of the cover 16, which passage-ways communicate with the openings or ports 28, formed by cutting away a portion of the webs disposed near the edges of the cover, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, for a purpose that will hereinafter-appear. In practice, it is usually convenient to form the passages in the webs throughout their entire length and through the flanged portion of the cover; and, afterward, the portion of the channel extending from the openings 28 through the flange is plugged up, as shown in the dotted lines at 44 in Fig. 2.

Within the sleeve 22 there are placed a series of concentric battle-plates 29, of hard rubber or other suitable material, and upon the top of the battle-plates there rests a cover 30,

of hard rubber or other suitable material,-

`33 and provided with a flangeas indicated at 34, is passed .through the central opening in the cover 3() and the central opening of the baille-plates and made up 1n the threaded portion 43 ofthe sleeve 23 until the flange 34 is "brought down snugly upon the soft rubber washer 35, and then the cover 30 is cemented in its proper position by means of the cement indicated .at 36. The

sleeve 32 is provided with apertures 37 which.

communicate with the annular opening 25 and with the interior'bf the sleeve 32. 38 is a piston, preferably vof hard rubber or other insulating material, provided with a soft rubber packing 39 which fits snugly within the sleeve 32 and is provided with a stem or piston rod 40 carrying at its upper end a mushroom top 41 provided onits lower side with a numberof radial Webs 42 which are so dimensioned and disposed as to hold the stem40 in a central position and render it impossible to seal the communication between the interior of the sleeve 32 and thel atmosphere.

An operation of my invention is substantially as follows:

If it be desired to add to or take a sample from the electrolyte, one has merely to grasp the mushroom 41 and raise the same sutliciently to remove the piston 38 from the sleeve 32, and then electrolyte may be added or subtracted through the central opening of the sleeve, which may be sealed with respect to the electrolyte 8 by merely placing the piston and the mushroom back into the positions indicated in Fig. 1, as the soft rubber packing carried by the piston 38 serves to effectively close the central opening into the jar or receptacle below the level of the ports 37. If a hose or other suitable means be connected with the tube 31` a-nd the pressure reduced below that of the atmosphere in which the battery is immersed, atmospheric air will he drawn in between the webs 42 of the mushroom 41 and passed downwardly through the bore of the sleeve 3Q. through the apertures 37. into the annular cavity 25: thence through the ports 26 and passage-ways in 27; thence through openings 28 into the jar or receptacle l: thence across from the edges of the same to the openings 24: thence through the `tortuous passages deiined by the bathe-plates to the under side of the cover 3() communirating with the bore of the tuber or nipple 31, from which it Will pass. onwardly through Also it will be noted that, if the battery 'be' canted into any position within reasonable limits, the openings 24 and, at least, some of the openings 28, which occur in proximity to the rim of thecover, Will always be in communication with the space aboX'e the electrolyte. And, therefore, the gases rif;- ing into this space will at all times be carried oil' by the exhausting means in the manner above described. And it will be further noted that by the disposition of the various ports 28 near the rim of the cover, it will be impossible inthe ordinary canting of the jar to cause any gas pockets in the corners, as would be possible if the gases were drawn ofi from some point near the center of the jar or receptacle cover, and the air intake also near the center of the cover.

From the foregoing it 'will be noted that I haveproduced a battery cell which may be tightly sealed in such manner that electrolyte will be prevented from spilling or slopping out; While, at the same time, any gaseous products generated in the cell may be carried oil' anddischarged at a desirable location; and that, at all times, regardless of the position of the cell, within the limits of any normal working, any unvented spaces above the electrolyte into which the gases would naturally rise will be avoided.

Further. it will be noted that spray will be prevented from passing outwardly` through the inlet port, and slopping of electrolyte through the said port'will be prevented, by means of the fluid-tight piston 38; while these effects will be prevented from taking place through the exhaust port b v means of the baille-plate construction indicated at 29; whileat any timeelectrolyte may be added to the cell or samples taken therefrolmxwith little inconvenience, by removing the piston 38.

I do not wish 'in any way to limit myself to any of the details of construction above given in order to fully point out one type of construct-ion embodying the j essentials of mv invention, for it will be obvious that wide departure inthe matter of construction may be made Without departing from the spirit and sc-ope of my invention, which is set forth in the following claims.

Iclaim:

1. The combination with a Huid-tight rcceptacle having a fluid inlet in communication with the interior thereof, of means in operative relation to said inlet whewb)v fluid entering therethrough is directed and discharged nearer the side walls of said receptacle than the, position of Said inlet.

2. The combination with a'fluid tight receptacle having a fluid inlet in communication with the interior thereof, of means in operative relation to said inlet whereby fluid entering therethrough is directed and discharged nearer the side walls of said receptacle than the position of said inlet, said re; ceptacle also being provided with an outlet whereby the fluid may be drawn from the interior thereof.

3. The combination with a fluid-tight receptacle having a fluid inlet in communication with the interior thereof, of means in operative relation to'said inlet whereby fluid entering therethrough is directed and discharged nearer the side walls of said receptaclev than the position ofsaid inlet, said receptacle also being provided with an outlet whereby fluid may be drawn from the interior thereof from a ylocation nearer the inlet than the discharge points of fluid entering said receptacle through said inlet.I

4. A battery cell, a' cover thereon havinga centrally disposed `air inlet adapted for admitting Ventilating air to the upper' end of the cell, an air outlet leading from the cell and apron meansI arranged within the upper end of the -cell in substantially parallel relation with the cover.

5. A cell including a receptacle, a cover in fluid-'tight 'relationthereto and provided with a fluid inlet port in the central portion thereof, and means for conveying fluid therefrom to points inside of the receptacle near the side walls thereof. 4

6. A cell including a receptacle, a cover in fluid-tight relation thereto and provided with a fluid inlet port in the central ortion thereof,l means for conveying therefrom to points inside of the receptacle in a direction toward and near to the side walls thereof, and means whereby the fluidy able container, with the battery plates and electrolyte therein and a cover for the container, said cover having'means for the inlet of air to and the exit of gases from inside the cell above the electrolyte, with the air passing into the cell and the gases passing out of the cell, both through the central part'of the cover as distinguished from adjacent the edges thereof and means whereby incomingy air is directed laterally over the electrolyte in the cell between a point adjacent the center of the cover and adjacent the edges of the cover. i

8. A cell including a receptacle, a cover in fluid-tight relation thereto and provided with a fluid inlet port in the central portion thereof, mans for conveying fiuid therefrom to points inside of the receptacle near the side walls thereof, and mean-s whereby the fluid thus admitted may be' exhausted vand elements immersed in an electrolyte .7J

l culating air.

9. In a battery-comprising a receptacle therein, the combination of a cover= above4 the electrolyte in gas-tight relation to said receptacle and having a central air inlet communicating with the under-side of the cover and a concentric outlet communicating with the under-side of the cover and adapted to be connected to'an exhausting means. f

10. Ina storage'battery. comprising a receptacle and acover in fluid-tight relation to said receptacle, an inlet device including an opening communicating with the underside of said cover and the atmosphere and communicating with ports having outlets into the receptacle on the under-side of the said cover at points substantially further distant from the. center of the cover than` theoutlet device. r f

11. The combination, in a storage battery comprising a receptacle, of a cover held in fixe vrelation with respect to said receptacle, means for causing a gas-tight. joint between said cover and said receptacle, said cover being provided .with a central air intake port and means whereby air entering said intake port is discharged on the lower side of said. cover at distant points with respect to the inlet. uid

12. The combination, ina storage battery com risin a receptacle, of a cover held in fixe relation with respect to said receptacle, means for causing a gas-tight joint between said cover andsaid receptacle, said cover being provided with a central airintake port and means whereby air entering said intake portis discharged on the lower side of said cover at distant -points with respect to the inlet combined with an outlet vent device for withdrawing air thus discharged from an opening in said cover nearer the center than said discharge points.

13. A.battery cell, a cover thereforhermetically arranged thereon and having a substantially centrally located air inlet surrounded by an air outlet and apron means located in the upper end ofthe cell adapted to cause the incoming air to be deliected and to be commingled with the gases, and means to withdrawthe mixed .gases from the cell. 14. In abattery, thecombinationwith a receptacle containing an electrolyte andelements immersed therein. of a coverforming a Huid-tight closure with respect tosaidreceptacle and elements provided with an air yin'let for admitting air near the center 'of the 130 cover, and means for conveying said air to points above the electrolyte near the edge of said cover.

15. A storage battery cell having a cover sealed thereon, said cover having a ventilating air inlet and outlet, both located substantially in the central part of the cover as distinguished from adjacent the edge thereof.

16. In a battery, the combination with a receptacle containing an electrolyte and elements immersed therein, of a cover forming a fluid-tight closure with respect to said receptacle and elements provided wit-h an air inlet for admitting air near the center thereof, means for conveying said air to points near the edge of said cover, and means for causing air to be drawn through said conveying means comprising an exhaust port in juxtaposition to the intake port and combined in a unitary structure therewlth.

17. The combination in a battery having a container and a cover in fluid-tight relation thereto, of Ventilating means comprehending in the structure thereof a central fiuld inlet, a juxtaposed outlet, and means whereby air entering the inlet and leaving the outlet is caused topass across the interlor of the container` near the top thereof.

18'. The combination in a battery having a container and a cover in fluid-tight relation thereto, of a Ventilating device including in its structure means for perm1tt1ng air to enter the container near the center of the cover, means whereby air may be withdrawn from the container near the central portlon of the cover, and means whereby air thus admitted and withdrawn is caused to circulate from the sides of the container toward the center of the cover.

19. The combination in a battery having a container, an electrolyte and elements immersed therein, of a cover in fluid-tight relation to said container above the electrolyte, said container and cover defining an air chamber above said electrolyte into which gases liberated by said elements and electrolyte collect, means for voiding said chamber of such gases including an inlet device whereby air is admitted near the central portion of said cover and discharged near the edges thereof, and means whereby said air and gases may be withdrawn near the central portion of said chamber.

20. The combination in a battery having a container, an electrolyte and elements immersed therein, of a cover in fluid-tight relation to said container above the electrolyte, said container and cover defining an air chamber above said electrolyte into which gases liberated by said elements and electrolyte collect, means for voiding said chamber of such gases including an inlet device whereby air is admitted near the central portion of said chamber and discharged near the sides thereof and means whereby said air and gases ma be withdrawn near the central portion of said chamber, said withdrawing means being adapted to be connected to an exhausting means whereby an air current may be maintained from p oints near the side walls ofl said chamber toward the center thereof.

21. A storage battery cell having a cover sealcd'thereon, said cover having a ventilating air inlet and outlet, both located substantially in the central part of the cover as distingulshed from adjacent the edge thereof, and means for causing the air to travel transversely over the top of the electrolyte in the cell and below the cover, in passing from the inlet to the outlet.

22. In a battery including a container with an electrolyte and elements immersed therein and a cover, a combined air inlet and outlet device for Ventilating the interior of said container including air inlet and outlct openings in close proximit other in a unitary struct-ure, an separated from each other by a portion of said structure. .v

23.` In a battery includingV a container with an electrolyte and elements immersed therein and a cover in fluid-tight relation with respect to said container andsaid eleto each c ments, a combined air inlet and outlet device for Ventilating the interior of said container including air inlet and outlet openings in close proximity to each otherin a unitary structure, one of said openings being provided withA a removable closing member whereby electrolyte may be readily added to and withdrawn from the interior of the container.V

24. In a battery including a container and a cover in luid-tlght relation thereto, means for admittin air to the interior of said container an withdrawing the same therefrom comprising a device provided with concentric intake and outlet passages and means for directing the intake and outlet of air.

25. A -storage battery cell having a cover thereon, I said cover having passageways therethrough substantially in the central part of the cover as distinguished from adjacent the edge thereof and forming a ventilating air inlet and oltlet for the cell, and a transverse passageway located on the underneath side of the cover, the outer part of said transverse passageway communicating with the space inl the cell and the inner part of said transverse passageway communicating with one of said lirst mentioned passageways. f

26. A storage battery cell, having a cover thereon, a substantially centrally disposed opening therethrough, a tubular member located within said opening and spaced therefrom forming an air passage through the tubular member and an air passage on the outside thereof through the cover opening, an exhaust port connected with one of said passages and means in the outlet passage for straining the gases exhausted therethrough.

27. A Stora e battery cell, having a cover thereon, a su stantially centrally disposed opening therethrough, a tubular member located Within said opening, and'spaced therefrom forming an air inlet passage through the tubular member and an outlet passage on the outside thereof through the cover opening, an exhaust port connected with the outlet passage and means in the outlet passage for straining the gases exhausted therethrough, and means for causing air introduced through said inlet passage to travel transversely over the top of the electrolyte in the cell, in passing from the inlet passage to the outlet passage.

28. A storage battery cell having a cover thereon with a port therethrough in the central portion of thel cover, a passageway on the underneath side of said cover, said pas-\ sageway communicating with said port and extending a substantial distance to the side of the cell, another port extending through the central portion of the cover, one of said ports serving as an inlet for a gaseous ventilating agent and the other of said ports serving as an exhaust for the gases in the cell.

29. The method of Ventilating a storage battery cell which consists in admitting a gaseous Ventilating agent through an intake port in the central portion of the cover of the cell, exhausting the gases from the cell through an outlet port in the central portion of the cover of the cell and-causing the admitted Ventilating agent to 'swee transversely across the top of the lcell un erneath the cover to entrain the gases formed in the sell and carry them away through said outet.

30. A storage battery cell having a suitable container with battery plates and electrolyte-therein and a cover for the container, said cover having a filling opening and a removable piston inserted therein to prevent the electrolyte slo ping out when the battery is in use, an ports leading from the space in the cell above the electrolyte to said filling opening above said piston when in its normal position, by means of which the cell may be vented.

31. A storage battery cell having a suitable container With battery plates and electrolyte therein and a cover for the container, said cover having a illing opening and a re'- movable piston inserted therein to revent the electrolyte slopping out when t e battery is in use, and ports leading from the space in the cell above the electrolyte to said filling opening above said piston when in its normal position, by means of which the cell 33. A storage battery cell having a suitable container, with the battery plates and electrolyte therein and a cover for the container, said cover having two passagevvaysy therethrough, one inside the other, one for entrance of air and the other for the exit of gases, both of said passageways having means to prevent liquid -from slo ing out therethrough and means for app ying suction to said exit passagewa 34. The method of ventllating a storage battery cell, which comprises the admission of a gaseous Ventilating agent through a central inlet above the surface of the electrolyte of the cell, deflecting said agent over the surface of the electrolyte and removing said agent through an opening substantially concentric with said inlet.

35. In an improvement in battery cells, a cover having a centrally disposed opening, and a combined air-admitting and gasevacuating unit located Within said opening whereb to permit ingress of atmospheric air an the withdrawal of gases accumulated Within the cell.

36. In an improvement in battery cells, a cover for thek cell having a centrally disosed air inlet, and means for preventing inet of Water to the cell in the event of the battery compartment being flooded.

37. In an improvement in battery cells, a

cover h aving a central opening and a com' bmed air-admitting and gas-evacuating unitarranged in said central opening and extending both inside and outside of the cell 'to permit ingress of atmospheric air as gases are Withdrawn from the cell, the inlet and exit passages being non-communicative except through the upper end of the cell.

38. In a battery cell a cover hermetically sealed thereon and having a central opening, a collar itted in said opening and having a chamber at its lower end in open communication with the upper end of the cell, and also having a sleeve extending above the top of said cell, and a housing or casing surrounding said sleeve providing a chamber which is in communication with the upper end of the cell through the collar chamber and having an outlet, substantially as and for the purpose specified.-

39. The herein described improvement in battery cells, comprising a cover having a centrally disposed opening formed therein 40. A batteryvcell, va cover sealed thereon and a combined :ur-admitting and gasand having acentralopening providing an 10 evacuating unit arranged within said openair inlet and having an outlet surrounding ing to permit ingress of atmospheric air as said inlet, and means associated withsaid gases are withdrawn therefrom and assooutlet for straining the air emitted'from the ciated means to prevent in ess of water to cell. a v f j said battery cell when the attery comparta ment is flooded. ALMOND SNYDER. 

